Driver
Sober or Get Pulled Over!National
Labor Day Enforcement Crackdown

This Labor
Day weekend Holiday Law enforcement officials will be targeting
drunk drivers. The National Drunk Driving “Driver Sober or Get
Pulled Over” impaired driving crackdown is a comprehensive
impaired driving prevention program organized by the U.S. Department
of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with
heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.

Labor Day
Driving TipsThe first step
towards a safe trip begins in the driveway.

Do
a "walk around" before leaving: Check your
vehicle's tires, wipers and fluids.

Plan
ahead:
Before you get on a highway, know your exit by name and
number, and watch the signs for the exit as you near it.
Drivers making unexpected lane changes to exit often cause
accidents.

Get
a map or program your GPS:
Surprisingly, few motorists use maps, even when driving
through unfamiliar areas. Knowing the road is essential
for safe driving -- it allows you to anticipate the road ahead
and avoid a panicky search for directions.

Leave
early and avoid risks: Leave early so you won't be anxious
about arriving late and to accommodate delays. Know your
limitations: don't drive when tired, upset, or physically
ill. Never try to gain a few seconds by attempting a
risky maneuver.

Be
aware of trucks’ blind spots: When sharing
the road with large trucks, be aware of their blind
spots. If you can't see the truck driver in his or her
mirrors, then the truck driver can't see you.

Use
your cell phone with caution: Pull off to
a designated parking area to use your cell phone.

Signal
your intentions: To change lanes, signal ahead of time so
other drivers can respond. If a truck is signaling to
change lanes, allow it space to do so. Often, it is
trying to avoid another vehicle.

Do
not cut in front of large trucks: Remember
that trucks are heavier and take longer to make a complete
stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.

Yield: On entrance ramps,
remember highway traffic has the right of way; maintain proper
speed, use smooth merging techniques, and don't slow down in
front of a truck.

Never
stop on the highway: The most dangerous
speed on a highway is zero. Stopped vehicles, even on
the shoulder, create a severe hazard for themselves and
others. If you are stopped for emergency purposes,
understand that big trucks cannot always stop to assist you,
but most will use their radios to contact the police or
highway patrol if they see you are in trouble.

Watch
your gas gauge: To save fuel, take direct routes, minimize
side trips, and keep a steady speed. Further, a
well-tuned engine, properly inflated tires and reduced speed
will result in noticeable fuel savings. Have at least a
quarter of a tank of gas before you get on a highway.
Traffic tie-ups can use a lot of fuel -- and may leave you
stranded.

Construction
zone:
Stay alert in work zones. Traffic may move more slowly,
and lanes may be temporarily closed. Obey informational
signs located within the work zone.

Have you prepared your terminal
facility for the upcoming Labor Day weekend?

It is not
uncommon for thieves to target truck terminals over the holidays as
they know it is a good opportunity as no one is there. Make sure
that you take extra precaution to secure the trucks and items of
value at your terminal. If your units do not have anti-siphon
devices or locking caps, instruct the drivers not to fill the units
at the end of the day. Make sure that all security alarms are in
working order. Walk the perimeter of the lot to make sure that
security fencing is in good condition. Move units and all other
material such as pallets, tires, etc far enough away from the fence
so they cannot be used to climb on to get over the fence. Consider
blocking the entrance and exits to the lot so units cannot be
stolen. Throughout the three day weekend assign management
personnel to check the terminal randomly. Using a little prevention
and common sense can deter a thief from striking your facility.

Next Week is "Brake Safety
Week" September 6-12

A brake
out of adjustment is the highest frequency violation during a
roadside inspection!

Professional drivers typically will maintain a space cushion
between them and the vehicles in front of them. When applying the
brakes they will usually apply the brakes with 15% to 25% air
application. Only in a defensive action will a driver apply the
brakes with greater than 60% air application. These braking
incidents are referred to as “Panic Stops” or “Rapid
De-acceleration Occurrences.” Analysis reflects that most
professional drivers will require less than 6 of this type of brake
application per 1,000 miles driven.
Most International trucks are equipped with a “Stroke Sensitive”
automatic adjuster. This type of slack adjuster adjusts the brakes
on the return stroke.
This adjustment occurs only when the application is greater than
60%. The better the driver, the less opportunity there is for the
automatic slack adjuster to make a brake adjustment. To ensure that
the brakes are always in adjustment, we recommend the following:

An automatic
slack adjuster will adjust approximately ½ inch with every 10 full
brake applications.

Including this procedure as part of your pre-trip inspection will
ensure that your brakes are always fully in adjustment. In the
event of a roadside inspection, repeat this process while waiting
your turn in line for the inspection process. This will insure that
you are not red-tagged, due to a slack adjuster “Out-of-Service”
condition or receive a violation. After completing this procedure and
the brakes are still not adjusted or are inspected and found to be
out-of-service, then it indicates there is a problem with the
adjuster, with the adjuster’s installation or with related
foundation brake components.

AS A DRIVER,
DO NOT TRY TO MANUALLY ADJUST AN AUTOMATIC SLACK!!

Operation Air Brake/Brake Safety
WeekSeptember
7-13

The
following is the Air Brake Inspection Procedure that will be used
by the CVSA inspectors during Brake Safety Week.

Inspection Items

STEP 1:
Choose the Inspection Site

Driver License

STEP 2:
Safety Considerations

Registration

STEP 3:
Check Air Brake Mechanical Components

Low Air Warning Device

STEP 4:
Check Steering Axle Air Brake Mechanical

Components

STEP 5:
Check Brake Adjustment

Pushrod Travel
(Adjustment)

STEP 6:
Build the Air Pressure to 90 - 100 PSI

Brake Linings/Drums

STEP 7:
Check the Air Brake ABS System (If Applicable)

Air Loss Rate (If leak
detected)

STEP 8:
Test Air Loss Rate

Tractor Protection
System

STEP 9:
Test Low Air Pressure Warning Device

Operation Air Brake
Inspection Procedure

STEP 10: Check
the Tractor Protection System

STEP 11: Finalize
paperwork, and provide the results to the driver

TRU compliance deadline can be
extended

Under a
new requirement for 2016, the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
is requiring that all transport refrigeration units (TRUs) with a
model year (MY) 2008 diesel engine meet Ultra-Low-Emission
Transport Refrigeration Unit In-Use (ULETRU) emissions standards.
This will require retrofitting the diesel engine in these units
with an emissions control device which has been approved by CARB,
by January 1, 2016.

CARB says that compliance extension deadlines can be granted for
Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) requirements that go into effect
January 1, 2016, if the carrier cannot secure the necessary parts.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Must
have documentation that they started the process of ordering
and securing replacement engines, units, and vehicles by no
later than August 31, 2015.

Must
have documentation that they started the process of ordering
Verified Diesel Emission Control Strategy (VDECS) retrofits by
October 31, 2015.

Click here for more information on the TRU program.
Click here for more information on ULETRU emissions
standards.

White House Delays Proposed Speed
Limiter Mandate

A looming
rule to mandate the use of speed limiting devices on heavy trucks
has been delayed, according to a notice on the White House’s Office
of Management and Budget’s rulemaking portal.

The OMB, which must stamp approval on rules prior to their
publication, has added a note to the status of the so-dubbed Heavy
Vehicle Speed Limiter rule that says “review extended,” a change
made Sept. 1. The OMB usually has 90 days to approve or deny a
regulatory agency’s rulemaking, but it can choose to extend that
time if necessary.

The DOT agency creating the rule, the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, sent the rule to the OMB on May 19, meaning
the 90-day window would close Aug. 19. The OMB did not say why it
needed more time to review the rule. The DOT began work on the
mandate nearly 10 years ago. No details about the rule — like
whether it will require the installation and use of speed limiters
retroactively on all heavy trucks or just new trucks and what the
limited speed will be — have been released.

September 4, 2015

DUE TO THE LABOR DAY
HOLIDAY NEXT WEEK AND THE IDEALEASE ANNUAL MEETING YOUR NEXT SAFETY
BULLETIN WILL BE SENT TO YOU ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH.

White House Delays Proposed Speed Limiter Mandate

A looming rule to
mandate the use of speed limiting devices on heavy trucks has been
delayed, according to a notice on the White House’s Office of
Management and Budget’s rulemaking portal.

The OMB, which must stamp approval on rules prior to their
publication, has added a note to the status of the so-dubbed Heavy
Vehicle Speed Limiter rule that says “review extended,” a change made
Sept. 1. The OMB usually has 90 days to approve or deny a regulatory
agency’s rulemaking, but it can choose to extend that time if
necessary.

The DOT agency creating the rule, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, sent the rule to the OMB on May 19, meaning the
90-day window would close Aug. 19. The OMB did not say why it needed
more time to review the rule. The DOT began work on the mandate
nearly 10 years ago. No details about the rule — like whether it will
require the installation and use of speed limiters retroactively on
all heavy trucks or just new trucks and what the limited speed will
be — have been released .

NEWS:

Sign Up Now
for one of Seven Safety Seminars to be held this Fall!

Idealease, its members
and the National Private Truck Council NPTC will again be hosting
safety seminars in 2015. The one day seminars this year will focus on
basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars
and will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers
and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides important
information applicable for both the novice and experienced
transportation professionals.

October 7

Erie, PA

October 13

Toledo, OH

October 14

Grand
Rapids, MI

October 14

Charlotte,
NC

October 20

Las Vegas,
NV

October 21

Los Angeles,
CA

October 22

San Martin,
CA

To register for an upcoming seminar in 2015 click on the following
link:

The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease affiliates and
their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive
source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety
Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or
otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or
guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing
body, or industry standards.